Collapsible ironing board



SePf- 15, 1964 o. NADAL ETAL v 3,148,639

COLLAPSIBLE IRONING BOARD Filed Nov. 2l, 1962 gsi INVENTORS OTILIO NADAL ATTORNEY oTlLlo NADALJR.

SePt- 15, 1964 o. NADAL ETAL 3,148,639

coLLAPsIBLE IRoNING BOARD Filed Nov. 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HO Jrg i INVENTORS OTILIO NADAL ATTO/WYE Y OT! LIO NADAL JR.

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United States Patent vO 3,148,639 CLLAPSIBLE IRONING BOARD Gtilio Nadal and Otilo Nadal, Jr., both of 611 W. 137th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Nov. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 239,219 1 Claim. (Cl. 10S-112) This invention relates to ironing boards and more particularly to the portable type adapted to fold together to a compact form.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved ironing board of simple and economical construction having a foldable board or table and legs folded between the table when the latter is folded together.

Another object of the invention is to provide foldable articulated supporting sections for an ironing board of the collapsible type wherein downward force on the table tends to hold the supporting sections in rigidly extending position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible ironing board construction which is adapted to be quickly and easily collapsed and set up by the average housewife without the exercise of undue exertion or skill, which is capable of being light in weight vfor convenient handling, and which is highly compact and small in its collapsed condition so as to occupy a minimum of space in storage.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible ironing board construction including a plurality of hinged table sections and collapsible leg sections cooperating with the table sections to be nested between the latter in the collapsed condition, thereby presenting a neat and attractive appearance when not in use and being entirely safe and easy to carry.

A specific object is to render the supporting legs extensible or telescopic.

Yet :another object of the invention is to provide an ironing board with a tapered end with the top of supporting leg for said end spaced well in from such tapered end in order to facilitate ironing certain garments or articles, and with the base of said leg extending across a width of ooring beneath the tapered end to aiford fully stable support and yet lie wholly nested between the table sections when in telescoped and folded position.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an ironing board embodying our invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the center of the ironing board.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the ironing board in collapsed condition.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the ironing board in collapsed condition taken through the center thereof.

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FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the ironing board in partly collapsed condition.

FIG. 8 is atop plan view of the ironing board.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on the line 1t-10 of FIG. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. l an ironing board made in accordance with our invention is shown and designated generally by the reference numeral 1t). The ironing board 16 comprises a plurality of flat board or table sections 12, 14, 16 illustrated in substantially coplanar horizontal disposition in FIG. 1. 'Ihe board or table sections may be advantageously formed of wood 0r other suitable material, with flat smooth top surfaces. The board or table sections are supported by a pair of leg assemblies Ztl, 2@ depending from the board sections for supporting engagement with a floor or other supporting surface.

The ironing board or table sections 12, 14, 16 are arranged in end-to-end relation with the section 14 located intermediate the outer or end sections 12 and 16. The sections 12 and 14 are of equal length, with the section 12 rectangular in shape and the section 16 preferably tapered to a blunt nose 22 as is usual in ironing boards. Hinge means, such as piano hinges 24, Z4 connects the adjacent ends of the sections 12 and 16 with the intermediate section 14 for swinging movement about axes extending transversely of and substantially coplanar with the top surfaces of the sections. In particular, each hinge 24 includes hinge plates 26, 26 secured in countersunk recesses in the top surfaces of the adjacent ends of the sections, and a hinged pintle 28, defining the pivotal axis of the hinge, preferably located in the space 3i) between the end edges of the adjacent sections.

By reason of this hinged connection, the ironing board sections can be folded as shown in FIG. 5 and can be opened for use in extended abutting relation as shown in FIG. l, the abutment of the sections holding the sections in extended position with their tops forming a single plane surface for ironing.

The foldable support for the ironing board comprises the leg assemblies 20, 20 which are preferably formed of wood. Each leg assembly Ztl is of telescopically extensile and contractile construction including an upper and outer portion 40 and a lower and inner extensible portion 42 having its upper end telescopically slidable through an elongated slot 44 formed in the upper portion 40.` The lower portion 42 is guided in its movement in the slot 44 by means of opposed plates 39, 39 extending across the slot and secured by rivets at the free end of the bottom portion 42. Outward movement of the lower portion 42 is limited by a stop plate 41 fixed on the outer surface thereof adjacent its inner end (see FIG. l). The upper portion 40 is formed of an elongated flat rectangularshaped wooden board, and the lower portion 42 is formed of an elongated narrow rectangular wooden board. Fixed- 1y secured by metal brackets 46 to the lower end of the lower portion 42, there is a laterally extending cross member 43. The cross member 48 detines the foot affording lateral stability to the leg assembly.

The top solid end of each upper portion 40 is hingedly connected to a plate 50 secured to the underside of the Patented Sept. 15, 1964.

intermediate section 14 at the center thereof, by a piano hinge 52, for swinging movement about an axis extending transversely of the ironing board. In particular, the hinge includes hinge plates 54 secured by rivets 56 to the underside of the top end of the upper portion 4l) and by bolts S to the underside of the plate 50, and a hinged pintle 60 defining the pivotal axis of the hinge preferably located under the plate St) along its adjacent long edge.

In order to hold each leg assembly 20 in extended position, for use, a strut 64 is pivotally attached at one end, by means of a bracket 66 to the underside of the iro-ning board section 12 or 16 intermediate the ends of said section, and the other end of the strut is slidably attached to the adjacent upper portion 40. Strut 64 comprises two sections 67 and 68 joined by a hinge rod 70 to form a toggle which can be bent upwardly as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2. The attachment to the upper portion 40 is afforded by a headed pin 72 extending laterally of the upper portion and through a closed slot 74 formed in the adjacent end of section 68. Section 68 of the strut is formed with a notch 76 along one long edge thereof at its pivotal end, and section 66 extends beyond the pivotal end and terminates in an angled end 78 to interlock with the notch 76. When the strut 64 and leg assembly 20 are extended as shown in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg assembly extends outwardly from intermediate section 14 so that pressure transmitted from the sections of the ironing board to the leg assembly tends to urge the ends of the sections 66 and 68 of the strut into interlocking relation holding the knee joint at the hinge 70 in rigid extended position thereby holding the leg assembly in rigid extended position.

The leg assemblies 2t) are hingedly connected together by a strut Si) pivotally connected at its ends to brackets 82 secured to the inner surfaces of the upper portions 4t) at the lower free ends thereof. Portions of the ends extend beyond the pivots and engage in notches 110 in extensible lower portions 42 to hold the legs in extended position. Strut 80 comprises two sections 84 and 86 joined by a hinge pin 88 to form a toggle which can be bent upwardly similarly to strut 64. Section 84 extends beyond the pivot pin and is formed with an angled end 9) adapted to interlock with a notch 92 formed in the adjacent end of section 86 to releasably hold the strut in rigid extended condition. The strut 80 tends to hold the leg assemblies in rigid extended condition.

The top flat smooth surfaces of the ironing board sections 12, 14, 16 are preferably covered with a cushioning pad 94 and the pad is covered and held in place by a ilexible fabric sheet 96, the edge of which is folded around the edges of the sections and held in place on the ironing board by a hem 98 underneath the bottom surface of the sections along the edges thereof.

A strap 160 secured at one end to the undersurface of the intermediate section 14 at one end thereof is provided for carrying the board after it has been collapsed and folded. The other end of the strap is slotted for securernent to a headed pin 102 extending from the other end of the intermediate section.

When using the ironing board, the folded unit or bundle shown in FIG. 5 is opened by loosening the strap 100 and by rotating or swinging the two outer sections 12 and 16 of the ironing board into abutting position. This operation simultaneously swings the leg assemblies 20, 20 to open diverging position as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the sections 67 and 68 of the struts 64 are in alignment and interlocked, and the sections S4 and 86 of the strut 80 are in alignment and interlocked, as shown in FIG. 2, the slots 110 formed in the inner surface of the lower portions 42 providing clearances for the pivoted outer ends of sections 84 and 86. In this position, the ironing board may be set up on a floor or other supporting surface and the level thereof will be found appropriate for use by an operator in a seated position.

If the operator desires to stand, the length of the leg assemblies are extended by pulling the lower portions 42 outwardly or downwardly. This movement is guided by the plates 39 and the parts are held in moved position by means of a spring-pressed ball detent rollably mounted in the inner end of each lower portion 42 on its inner surface engaging the edge walls of a hole 106 in a plate 43 spanning the slot 44 and secured to the inner surface by rivets 45 and its inner end when in collapsed condition, and engaging the Walls of a hole 108 in a similar outer plate 43 in its outer end when in extended position.

Since the leg assemblies 20, 2) diverge, any force applied to the top of the ironing board is properly distributed to the struts 64 and 30, and the abutting ends of the ironing board sections 12, 14, 16 are forced into intimate abutting engagement. The ironing board when set up is consequently stable and will not tilt laterally owing to the shape and construction of the leg assemblies and the feet 48.

In order to fold the ironing board, the lower portions 42 are manually forced inwardly into the slots 44 of the upper portions 40. The hinges of the struts 64 and 80 are manually broken and the ironing board may then be folded by swinging the two sections 12 and 16 toward each other so that the ironing board now assumes the position shown in FIG. 5, with the leg assemblies 20, 20 embraced between the sections 12 and 16, and the folded ironing board is ready for transporting or storage.

From the above description, it will be seen that we have invented an ironing board which may be readily set up for use, or folded into a compact bundle for transporting or storage, and with unique leg structure which permits of the user of the ironing board performing ironing operations when seated or standing up.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A collapsible ironing board comprising an intermediate board section, a pair of end board sections arranged respectively in substantially coplanar end-to-end relation, a pair of longitudinally collapsible leg assemblies each including an upper portion pivotally connected to the underside of said intermediate board section at the center thereof and a lower extensible portion, and each swingable between its set-up condition depending at a slant from said intermediate section and its collapsed condition in juxtaposition to each other, a first hinge means connecting one of said end board sections to said intermediate board section for swinging movement from its set-up condition to a collapsed condition closely spaced in juxtaposition to one of said collapsed leg assemblies, second hinge means connecting the other of said board end sections to said intermediate board section for swinging movement from its set-up condition to a collapsed condition closely spaced in juxtaposition to the other collapsed leg assembly, a flexible strut interposed between each board end section and the adjacent leg assembly for releasably holding the end section in operative extended condition, a flexible strut interposed between the leg assemblies for holding said leg assemblies in longitudinally extended operative position each strut comprising two sections with their adjacent ends hingedly connected, and means for releasably holding the strut sections in extended aligned condition, said last mentioned strut sections having their outer ends pivotally connected to the upper portions of said leg assemblies and having projecting portions extending beyond the pivotal connections and engaging the ex tensible portions thereof, said intermediate board section being of a length slightly in excess of the combined thickness of said two leg assemblies when collapsed and juxtaposed, and said end board sections being of a length substantially equal to the length of ysaid collapsible leg assemblies when in collapsed condition.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,535 Essner et al. Dec. 11, 1900 683,993 Schir-ber Oct. 8, 1901 713,794 Ostermann Nov. 18, 1902 

